MUSIC | ALBUQUERQUE
UNM Wind Symphony set for a trip down to Rio
Ensemble to perform with groups from around the world
This summer, the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony, the university鈥檚 premiere wind ensemble consisting of over 50 undergraduate and graduate students, is traveling to Rio de Janeiro to participate in an international conference.
The Wind Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles will bring together groups from Brazil, the United States, Colombia and Germany July 20-25. They will perform in halls across Rio, participate in workshops and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a massive undertaking,鈥� Emily Moss, director of bands at UNM and conductor of the Wind Symphony, said.
To keep prices low, the trip is being funded in part through donations with the rest of the funding coming from UNM.
The ensemble will first perform in Teres贸polis, a mountainous region outside of Rio, in an exchange concert with two local universities. Next, they will return to Rio to perform at the Church of S茫o Francisco de Paula in the city鈥檚 historic center. The ensemble鈥檚 last performance of the trip will be in the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, which was built in 1909 and inspired by the Palais Garnier in France.
Moss was immediately drawn to the conference when its location was announced. UNM already has connections to Brazil, C谩rmelo de los Santos, professor of violin and concertmaster with the New Mexico Philharmonic, is a renowned soloist from the country. Many of the music department鈥檚 string students are from Brazil, too.
鈥淚t was really exciting to think about the idea of introducing the Wind Symphony to this part of the world, with the idea of expanding a potential student base,鈥� Moss said. 鈥淭o let them know that it鈥檚 not just orchestra that we do here at UNM.鈥�
Beyond recruitment, Moss hopes that exploring this connection will help her students gain a new perspective.
鈥淚 was really excited about bringing my students to a place where they could experience this for themselves. To get to see bands from all over the world perform and to learn something from that experience.鈥�
Dominic Dowdy, who just finished his third year as a trombonist with the group, has never performed outside of the United States.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a crazy experience to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 something I can bring back to shape my playing.鈥�
As Moss finishes up her third year at UNM, her ambition for the orchestra is not just academic.
鈥淚 want all 54 members of my group to really feel like they鈥檙e a part of something bigger than themselves, and that when we perform together. It鈥檚 not just for a grade, or not just as a part of their educational experience, but that we鈥檙e really creating something that鈥檚 magical.鈥�
